Sunday Events By Historical Society: Open House, Garden Demonstration, Sandy Hook Walking Tour

Newtown Historical Society will host an open house and garden program at its headquarters and a walking tour of Sandy Hook, all on Sunday, June 10.

During the open house, Holly Kocet, master gardener and the designer of a garden behind the Matthew Curtiss House, at 44 Main Street, will join historical society members in celebrating the garden’s first anniversary. Ms Kocet will be available to discuss why certain plants were included, or excluded, and which plants Matthew Curtiss may have had in his garden.

Ms Kocet was assisted in designing and planting the garden by fellow Master Gardener Terry Merola, and The Garden Club of Newtown, including members Diane Baumer, Joyce DeWolfe, Carol Garbarino, Maureen McLachlan, Deb Osborne, Kim Verdries, and Kathy Williams. In addition to a grant received from the Connecticut Master Gardener Association, funds for the project were provided by The Garden Club of Newtown, Newtown Historical Society, and The Horticulture Club of Newtown.

The public is invited to visit and tour the Matthew Curtiss House any time between noon and 4 pm.  Admission is free; however, donations are welcomed and appreciated.

Junior and senior docents will be available to answer questions about the house and its history, as well as provide guided tours by request.

Meanwhile, Town Historian Dan Cruson will conduct a walking tour of Sandy Hook. He will explain how the fires of 1905 and 1906 remade the landscape and tell stories of various robberies and wild west-style shootouts that occurred.

The tour will step off from the corner of Washington Avenue and Church Hill Road at 1 pm. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes. The tour will last about 45 minutes.

For additional information about these events or the historical society in general visit www.newtownhistory.org, find the society on Facebook or call 203-426-5937.